Possible answers:

• increases physical fitness
• helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles
• helps maintain healthy joints
• builds endurance
• builds muscular strength
• helps manage weight
• lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and Type II diabetes
• helps relieve stress
• helps control blood pressure
• promotes psychological well-being and self-esteem
• reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
• improves blood circulation
• improves energy level
• improves older adults' ability to move without falling

Physical activity doesn't have to be a traditional workout.  According to the Surgeon General and Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommendation for adults is to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most or all days of the week.  The good news is the minutes can accumulate throughout the day.

How did you feel doing the Hand Shakes activity?  Participants may answer "silly," "fun," "goofy."

Did it feel like exercise?
Why not?
Because, like recess in elementary school, it was fun!  If you could make physical activity more enjoyable, would you do it more often?

Discuss the 3 steps by Dayle Hayes, a registered dietitian, on how to be more physically active:

1. Change "E" word from exercise to enjoyment.
2. Start slow and celebrate your successes.
3. Choose activities that are safe and comfortable for your body.

Let's try out another fun, easy physical activity.  Do the Itsy-Bitsy Spider activity.  Follow handout directions.

Exercise can be fun and enjoyable!  Think about recess and how much fun it was to run out onto the playground and release all the pent-up energy.  Let's think about ways we can incorporate physical activity into our lives, including fun, "kid-like" ways:

If needed, some suggestions to get the group started:

• Race your kids to the car
• Take a walk and don't stop until you find a penny
• Change the TV channel without a remote
• Deliver e-mail personally
• Park farther away

Flipchart with steps written

Encourage participants to try out the other activities on the handout or make up some of their own!

Questions/wrap-up/evaluation

Reinforce the bottom line:  Enjoy physical activity by regaining the feeling of fun you felt when you were a child.

Evaluation form